Grave-vault.



J. Wi. CRIGLER.

GRAVE VAULT.

(Application filed Apr. 4, 1901.) (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet No. 680,766. Paten-red Aug. 20, mul.

W fasses WK ag/Z@ Patented Aug. 2U, I90I. J. M. CRIGLER.

GRAVE VAULT.

(Application led Apr. 4, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 (N0 Model.)

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artnr FFME JOHN M. ORIGLER, OF SAYBROOK, ILLINOIS.

G RAVEMVAU LT..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 680,766, dated August 20, 1901.

I Application iilcd April 4, 1901. Serial No. 54,356. (No model T0 all whom it may con/cern:

Be it known that I, JOHN M. CRIGLER, a citizen ofthe United States, residing at Saybrook, in the county of McLean and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Grave-Vault, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improved grave-vault; and it consists in the peculiar construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

One object of myinvention is to provide an improved grave-vault which is impervious to moisture and water and the roof or cover of which is secure and not liable to collapse.

A further object of my invention is to ef-` fect improvements in the construction of a grave-vault whereby the cover of the lead lining where one is used is prevented from collapsing by its own weight.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a sectional perspective View of a grave-vault constructed in accordance with myinvention. Figs. 2, 3, and 1 are sectional views of the same in various degrees of construction. Figs. 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are sectional views illustrating the various stages in the construction of a modified form of my invention. Fig. 10 is a sectional perspective view of a modified form of my invention. Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view of the same. Fig. 12 is a similar view show` ing another modification of my invention.

If the grave when opened is in Wet ground, I place in the bottom thereof a lining or casing 1, which may be made of any suitable material and which serves to exclude water from the bottom of the grave while the vault is being constructed therein and the material of which the vault is composed is setting and hardening. If the grave be dry, the lining or casing 1 may be omitted.

In the construction of my improved vault I form the bottom 2 thereof of sand and cement mixed with Water or any other suitable composite material which may be worked when plastic and Which will set or harden. The bottom is of any suitable thickness. A removable core-box 3 is then placed on the bottom 2 in the center thereof, so as to leave spaces between the side and end walls thereof and the sides and ends of the grave, and in the said spaces I tamp or pour the plastic composite material, thereby forming the side and end walls of the vault. Vhen the said side and end walls of the vault are thus formed to the level of the upper side of the core-box, a former 4 is placed on the upper side of said core-box. The sides of the said former project beyond the side walls of the core-box, as shown in Fig. 2, and a slight addition to the side Walls being form ed rabbets 5 are formed therein by the said former. At this stage of the construction of the vault the core-box is removed therefrom after the side and end Walls have set or hardened and the lining 6, which in the form of my invention shown in Figs. 1 to 4 is of sheet-lead or other suitable metal, is placed in the vault, the joints ofthe said lining being carefully soldered to render the same absolutely watertight. In practice, if preferred, the lining 6 may be first formed around the removable core-box before the side and end walls of the vault are constructed around the same. The core-box be ing then removed, as in the former instance, the lining 6 will be left in the vault. The side Walls of Ithe lining 6 are extended upward a suitable distance to form a cover for the lining. These extended portions 7 of the side Walls of the lining after the bottom, side, and end Walls of the vault have been formed are turned upward in the sides of the grave, as is indicated in dotted linesin Fig. 2, until after the casket has been placed in the Vault. An inner cover 8, which may be made of any suitable materialas cement, terra-cotta,tile, or Wood-and which is adapted to -fit onl the side and end Walls of the vault and is provided With flanges 9, adapted to fit into the rabbets 5 thereof, is placed on the side and end walls of the vault, the same extending only partially over them. The lining 6 has its upper portion 7 then bent and disposed over the said inner cover, and the said por tions 7 of the lining have their upper edges outturned to form keys 10. The said portions7 meet over the center of the inner cover S to form a joint 11, which is eifectually soldered, and thereby rendered water tight. The roof or cover 12 of the vault, which is of the same composite material as that used in the construction of the sides, ends, and bottom of the vault, is then formed while the material is plastic over the inner coverS and preferably in the form of an arch, as shown in Fig. 4. When the same is set, it is united homogeneously with the side and end walls of the vault, as will be understood. The cover of the lining 6 being keyed in the cover or roof of the vault is sustained by the latter after the inner cover 8, if the same is of perishable material, has decayed, and hence the said cover of the lining is sustained and supported by the arched cover or roof of the vault and by the same prevented from collapsing. It will be understood that owing to its composition the roof or cover of the vault is secure and not liable to collapse.

In the modified form of myinvention shown in Figs. 5 to 8 the lining 6 is formed of tar, pitch, or other suitable substance, which is melted and poured into the spaces formed between the side and end walls and bottom of the vault and the corresponding sides of an inner removable core -box 13, which is placed centrally in the vault after the outer core-box 3 has been removed therefrom. After the side walls and bottom of the pitch or tar lining have been thus formed the cover of the lining is formed over the inner cover 8, as shown in Fig. 7, and the roof or cover of the vault is then formed over the same in the manner previously described.

An oil-cloth lining 14 may be used within the lining 6 when the latter is of tar or pitch to cover and conceal the same. The kind of oil-cloth which is finished on one side in imitation of marble is preferably used, with the marbled side thereof exposed to form an attractive lining to the vault. Where the oilcloth is used as a lining, in practice the corebox is first covered with the oil-cloth in such manner that after the pitch, tar, or asphaltum has set around the same the core-box may be removed, leaving the oil-cloth visible as the inner lining of the vault.

Referring again to the form of my invention shown in Fig. 1, the lead lining after the body has been inclosed in the casket and the latter iuclosed in the core-box or rough box, as it is termed, may be placed over the rough-box or core-box to completely incase the same, and the said lead lining or cover may be soldered permanently at its joints and to :form the key 10 before being carried to the grave when it is not convenient or possible to have `the soldering done in the grave after the casket has been lowered therein, in which event after the body, the casket, and the lead cover, rough box, or core-box have been lowered in the grave it is only necessary to construct the cementor other composite vault around the said lead-covered box, as will be understood. This is shown in Fig. 12.

In Figs. 10 and 11 of the drawings I show another modified form of my invention, in

which the inner lining 15 of the vault is formed of linoleum of a suitable thickness and quality. In this form of my invention the core-box' is first covered with the linoleum 15 in such manner that the core-box may be readily drawn therefrom after the body of the vault has been formed. Having covered the corebox with the linoleum, I secure headed screws or nails 16 in the latterV by inserting the points thereof therein for a depth of about an eighth of an inch or more, whereby said headed nails or screws project outward from the core box, as shown. The walls of the vault when formed around the linoleum envelop of the core box set and key the said projecting screws or nails therein, hence securing the linoleum in place as a lining to the vault when the core-box is removed.

When mixing the cement or other composite material for the formation of the vault, a suitable quantity of carbolic acid or other suitable disinfectant or preservative may be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- 1. A grave-vault made of composite material, and having a lining, the cover of the latter having a key embedded in the roof or cover of the vault, whereby the cover of the lining is prevented from collapsing by the roof or cover of the vault, substantially as described.

2. A grave-vault made of composite material and having rabbets in the upper edges of its side and end walls, an inner cover having its side and end edges fitted in said rab bets, and an arched cover or roof made of composite material, formed and applied while plastic over the said inner cover, and united to the sides and ends of the vault, substantially as described. l

3. A grave-vault made of composite material, and having a lining in its bottom, and side and end walls, a former placed ou said side and end walls, and over which said lin ing is extended, the said vault having a cover or roof made of composite material and formed and applied while plastic over said lining and united thereto and to the side and end walls of the vault, substantially as described.

4. The method of making a grave-vault consisting in forming the floor, side and end walls thereof of composite material while plastic around a removable core-box lining the said vault and extending the lining thereof over the same, and forming the roof or cover of the vault of the material while plastic over the said lining, substantially as described.

5. The method of making a grave-vault, consisting in forming the floor, side and end walls thereof of composite material, while the same is plastic, around a removable core; box, lining the said vault, extending the lining thereof over the same, forming the roof nor cover of the vault of composite material my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

JOHN M. CRIGLER.

Witnesses:

J. M. ANDERSON, MAUDE CRIGLER ANDERSON. 

